Playing at three-quarters, Pocock gained two caps for Scotland while representing Edinburgh Wanderers at club level.

Pocock was educated at Clifton College from 1872 to 1875[3] and after leaving school he joined the British Army, being posted to Edinburgh.

[6] In 1877, while playing for Wanderers, Pocock was approached by the Scottish Rugby Union to represent Scotland in the 1877 Test match against Ireland.

Despite a win for Scotland from a solitary dropped goal from Malcolm Cross, Pocock had a terrible match, and at one point was moved out of his three-quarter position and into the forwards.

[9] In 1888 he joined the newly formed Royal Army Service Corps, retaining his rank of honorary captain.

[2] He resigned his commission in 1890 to join Cecil Rhodes' newly formed Pioneer Column, and was appointed to C Troop on 18 April.

[2] The Pioneer Corps was disbanded on 1 October 1890, and the members of the company were offered a parcel of land to farm, which included mining rights.

In 1893 he prospected and developed mining properties in the Lomagundi District, but that year he was hospitalised in Salisbury with an abscess on his knee.

[2] Pocock was later made a mining commissioner, and was present when Trooper Cooper of the British South Africa Company's Police was fatally stabbed while collecting hut tax.

[12] During an uprising in 1896, Pocock was made captain of the Gwelo District Volunteers, and between September and October 1896 he was placed in command of Fort Gibb.